Shoe-supporting jack.



E. A. STIGGINS.

SHOE SUPPORTING JAGK.

-APPLIUATION FILED MAY 25,1906.

935,065, Patented Sept.28,1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WHW @uw 0. we

E. A. STIGGINS.

SHOE SUPPORTING JACK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25,1906.

935,065. Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. A. STIGGINS.

SHOE SUPPORTING JACK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25.1906.

935,065, Patented Sept, 28, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

, MTA/5555. /A/VEA/MR ma M4 E( A. STIGGINS.

SHOE SUPPGRTING JACK.

APPLIoATIoN FILED 11u25, 190e.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

the several figures.'

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARI) A. STIGGNS, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR' T0. UNITED SHOE MACHINERY' COMPANY, OF PATER'SON, NEW' JERSEY, .Av CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

sHoE-sUProi-zrme JACK. Y

Specication of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 2S, 1909.. Application filed May 25, 1906.l Serial No. 318,705.

To all whom it may concer/n:

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. STIGGINS, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Beverly, in the" county of Essex and Commonwealth of'Massach'usetts, have invented certain Improvements in lShoe Supporting Jacks, of whichthe following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecication, like reference characters-on the drawings indicating like parts in This invention relates to jacks for shoe machines and particularly .to jacks employed in connection with lasting machines.

The object ofthe invention is to provide an improved jack which is capable of ready adaptation or adjustment to different styles of lasts and which requires a minimum ofr .movements for properly jacklng and un] acking shoes of Various sha-pes and sizes.

The inventlon 1s shown as embodied 1n a jack comprising a rest for the toe or forepart of an inverted last and a heel pin for entering the usual pin hole in a last to support the heel end of thellast. The jack herein shown also includes a heel bandv for embracing the .heel end of the last to clamp and hold the upper materials against the sides of this portion of the last'preparatory to said materials being worked oven the bottom of the last into position to be secured to the inner" sole. The jack is also provided with a toe band and withineans for actuating said band forwardly and upwardly along and over the upper of the forepart of the shoe for.

wiping the upper on the top and sides of the forepart of the last toward the last bottom whereby this portion of the shoe 1s partially lasted. A band arranged to Ilast or partially lasta portion of-the shoe may be regarded as one form of lasting means.

As is well known, some lasts are twisted or so shaped that the plane'in-which the bot-tom I face of the forepart liesis not parallel with the plane in-which the bottom face of the heel ofthe; last is located,but 'is inclined thereto vtransversely of lthe last so that ify the heel part is properly `positioned in the i jackone side of the, forepart is higher than ogthe other side. It is ,important in lasting shoes upon twisted lasts that'the last and the toe bandbe relatively adjusted angularly soy that the upper edge of the toe band will bearv the same relatiomto. the bottom ofjthe -last on 'both-sides of the jaeks. `An importantl feature of this invention consists in im-v v-iding devices', herein termed feelers for engaging the shoe bottom near its opposite edges to ascertain the relative positions, or altitudes ofthe engaged portions of the bottom. The feelers preferably are connected with the movable carriage to operate there-I through for moving said toe band automatically into the desired relation to the transverseplane in which the bottom of the forepart of the last is located.

y Lasts vary inthickness or height of the..

forepart, so that the bottoms of lasts of different sizes and styles occupy dierent altitudes when sustained upon the toe resa It y is desirable that the toe band be moved upwardly into the same relation withthe bot- 'tom of the last, whatever may be the size of the last, for wiping the upper toward the last bottom. According to another feature ofthis invention provision ismade for insuring that the toe band shall always be moved into the same relation to the bottoms of lasts of different heihts. To this end the feelers before mention ddetermine not only the relative positions o -the twoI edges ofthe last supported on the toe rest and heel pin, but said feelers also find-the height of the last or the altitude of the last bottom and automatically determine the distance which the toe band shall be elevated by its actuatingmechanism. In the construction herein shownv thefeelers are mounted for vertical movement relatively to the carriage upon which the toe band is mounted and said carriage is itself arranged for vertical move'- ment upon a support-111g' member. An actuating device, shown as a cam, is mounted in the carriage and engages a slide connected to the feelers forrnoving said feelers downwardly Vuntil they engage the last bottom, whereupon they become fixed points with relation vto which the carriage is moved upwardly by the cam during the remainder of the throw Qfthecani. It will be understood that asfthe'whole throwof the camis util` of the particular ized .in effecting the relative movement of the feelers and toe band toward each other, these .parts will be moved by the cam'to the same relative positions. It will also be obdownwardly during a large portion -of the throw of the cam before they contact with the last bottom and the toe band will thereaftertbe moved upwardly along the toeof the thinl last during a proportionately smaller portion of the throw of the cam.`

If a large last is in the jack the feelers will meet the bottom of the last after a relatively small portion'of 'the throw of the cam has been given and the toe band will be raised along thethi'cker last during the correspondingly greater remaining portion of the throw of the cam. It is to be noted that the actuation of the' feelers for finding the relative altitudes of the two edges of the last bottom and the rocking of the toe band in accordance with the relative position of said edges, and also the actuation of the toe band upwardly toward the last `bottom are effected by the same cam so that only one operation is required for eti'ectingthe two results.

After the toe band-has been rocked to conform to the relative -altitudes of the two edges of the last bottom, and has been raised to the desired level with relation to the last bottom, the closed end ofthe band is required to be swung upwardly for wiping the upper material on the top and sides of the last toward the edge of the last. In the embodiment of the invention shown herein this swinging of the toe band for wiping the upper towardV the edgev of the last and, preferably, partially lasting this portion of the upper as lbefore suggested, .is also effected by a continued movement of the shaft carrying the cam 'by 'which the before-mentioned movements of the feelers andthe toe band are effected. In

the illustrated construction the closed end of theftoe band is connected to a rack bar adapted to be engaged by a segmental gear' which is formed on said cam. The segmental gear is so'located -on the cam that the rack bar is actuated for swinging the toe band after the band has been raised to the proper position delpending upon the height ast. This provision for effecting the several movements of the feelers and the toe band by a continuous operation is an important feature of this invention, for it enables the operator to jack the forepart of the'last very `quickly by a single actuation of the cam shaft.

Right and left lasts usually vary in swing` or inclination of their side edves with rela-` tion` to the median line of the lastand a feature of the present invention consists in mounting -a band for movement relatively 'to the last about a center located under the last whereby the relative positions of .the band and last may conform to the swing -of the last. As herein shown, the supportI which sustains the carriage for the toe band automatically turning the toe band in accordance with the ascertained shape of said. last. In the illustrated construction the feelers comprise swinging arms located at the rear of said vertical axis and extending from the carriage upwardly at either side y of the jack. The feeler arms are connected to their actuating cam by means which causes 'the arms to move together toward and from the sides of the last before they arel moved downwardly to bring the feelers into contact with the last bottom, as has been before described. The arrangement is such that the arm which first engages the adjacent side of the last in the jack, whetherv it be a right or a leftllast, causes the support to'turn .about said vertical -axis until the other feel/er' arm engages the sideof the last adjacent to it. The connection between the feele arms and the cams by which they are actuated is shown to include bell-crank levers fulcrumed on slidin blocks which are vertically movable in-t 1e 4carriage. lThe feele'r arms are secured to the vertical arms ofthe levers,

while the horizontal' arms of the levers are. pin to the slotted and are connected bya vertically movable slide which 1s engaged by the voperating cam. This arrangement insures that the levers shall b e rocked Yto throw the two feeler arms toward each other until they both engage the last, after which continued movement of said slide carries the levers downwardly with the feeler arms in,

contact with the sides of the last yuntil 4the feelers engage" the bottom f the last for the purposes heretofore stated.' For' enabling the toe band yfurther to adapt itself to the swing of the last the closed end of the band may be so connected with the rack bar byl which said closed end i-s supported and actuated that it mayslide laterally on the rack Y,

bar and conform freely to the position of the `toe end of the last. The band is lshown as consisting of a chain having a leather lining. The links of the chain have beveled lugs extending approximately to `the top of the leather lining and servingto support said lining near lts edge 'and .preventit from stretching during the operation of wiping theupperalong the last. l.

To facilitate the insertion and the removal of lasts and also to adapt the jack for shoes of different sizes it is desirable to move the toe band longitudinally of the jack away from'its operative position. vTo this end the toe band and the toe rest, together with their carriage and support are l'mounted on a swinging arm with which the toe band maybe moved toward and awayfrom a last sup-l ported lupon the heel pin. A pawl and v ratchet secures the arm in the position to which it is moved toward the last and a spring moves thearm awayf\ from the last when the pawl is released. Alstop limits theswinging movement of the ar\ away from vthe last and the top may be adjusted to per- ,mit only so much movement as is lnecessary to glve the'deslred clearance for the slze of' lasts being jacked. In the construction 1'- of ditfercntlengths and to' this end the pivot' postv 1s carried by a cross bar whichhas con-' nection also with a link extending approxi# y herein shown the heel band is also moved 'away from the last to facilitate the application of the last to the heel pin and its re,-

moval from the pin. To this end the heel band is mounted on the upper arms of bell# crank4 levers, the horizontalarms of which are provided on theirV end faces with segtnv mental racks and are engaged by pinions on a shaft having a hand lever by which it may be actuated foradvancing the heel band into v engagement with the last. A pawl and.

ratchet locks the heel band'in its advanced position and theband is reversely moved by springs. i

According to a further feature of my invention provision is made for automatically releasing .the arm'which 'carries the toe band and the toe Test tov permit said arm tomove away from the last when the heel bandfis retracted fromthe last. lAs illustrated the' the construction shown the carriage sustain-l ing these parts is mounted 11p/on an upright pivot post carried by the swinging support. It 1s desirable that the upright position of this post be maintained constant in the dif.

'ferentl positions to which the Swingingl sup port is moved'` for operative relation-to lasts mately parallel with the swinging support. ABy' this arrangement of the pivot postk upon parallel links the axis about, which the toe band and assoclated parts turn is always maintained in substantially vertical position Whatever the'position of the supporting arm.. 1

It will beI understood that the arm carrying the toe rest is adapted to be moved longitudinally ofthe jack and that this move'- mentv may take place while 'the last is` sus'- tained on the toe rest and theh'eel pin. To avoid liability of the shoe upper being"` abraded by the toe rest in such movement .of its carrying arm the restis mountedto permitv sliding movement longitudinally of 'the last with relation to the support upon which it carried.v -This provision allows the supporting arm tol be shifted ,for moving the toe band towaiiior from the lastl y without causing the toe rest to move'with relation to the last -and thereby avoids all danger of the upper being marred by the toe rest. lt is desirable to employ a yieldinglyv supported heel pin by which'lasts, of different heights can be supported-with their bottom faces in the same relation to theheel band. It is also desirable to lock the heel pin against, vertical movement when it'has once been positioned for the last applied to th'e'jack As herein shown, means -is provided by which 'the heel pin is automatically locked against -movement either upwardly or downwardly while the shoe is jacked and automatically unlocked when the shoe is yreleased. This result is secured by arranging the heel pin for movement fgrwardly4 by the 'pressure of the heel .band `against the rear.

end of the last and providing the heel pin -and an adjacent fixed part ofthe jack with coperating -means for locking the heel pin against vertical movement in either direction when the heel pin is pressed forwardly.

A springpresses the heel pin backwardly to unlock it when the heel band is moved 'for unjacking the shoe.

rlhese and other features ofthe inven tion, including certain details of construction and combinations of parts, lwillv be hereinafter described' and pointed out in the claims. y

In the drawings which representl a preferred construction 'embodying my invention; Figure l is a side elevation of a shoesupportingiack. Fig. Slis a plan view. Fig. I?) isa .front View of the mechanism comprismg the forenart of the\jack. Fig. 4 is a rear view of; portion fof vthe'mechanism yshown in 'Fig 3.. Fig. 5 is a perspective' viewV of parts of the machanism shown in Figs'. A3 and this view illustrating particularly-the form of the block 100. Fig.v 6 1s a. 'vie-w 4o'f mechanism comprised in the" forepart of the jack as seen from the oppo- -site sidefrom'that shown in Fig. 1, certain -partsbeing illustratedin section. Figs. 7 I

and 8 aredetai ls showing different positions f of parts shown in Eig. 6. lFigs. 9, 10 and 11 show successivel positions occupied by the .feelers and the toe band during the operation of jacking a shoe. Figs. 12 and .13 are pther views showing successive positions ofv the feelers in the operation of Jacking a' shoe.

The base `1 of the jack is' adapted to be mounted 'on any suitable sustainin means and is provided near its rear end witl a post 2.l Ears 4 extend rearwardly from the post and support pivotally a'socket member 6 which is spaced suliiciently far from the post to permit it to have a limited rocking movement. A spring 8 mounted in a recess in the post bearsA against the socl'ret member and holds it tipped rearwardly. 'The post has in its uppei' end a block 10 which v'projects through'an opening in the front wall of the socket member and is provided on its inner end with corrugations. vThe last pin 12 is yieldingly supported'. in the socket member by a spring'lll and is provided on its front facel adjacent to the block 10 with corrugations which are adapted to interlock with the corrugations on the block land hold the pin andthe last'sustained on 'it in the desired vertical' position. The pin is normally out of contact with the block 10, but when the last is clamped by the heel band, later to be described, the last is pressed for wardly and caused to rock the pin and socket vmember toward the post until the corruga-r tions on the pin engage those on the block. This construction enables the operator to depress the last and pin for bringing the bottom of the last to the desired altitude with relation to the heel band and then to lock the last pin at this elevation by clam ingthe heel band about the last and there y ed in bearings in the base.

aliand lever 36 which carries a pawl adapted forcing the pin against the corrugated block 10. It is vto be noted that the vcorrugations not only prevent the last from rising under the influence of the spring 14, but also rigidly sustain the last against downward movement occasioned by the insertion of tacks orl any other operation performed upon the shoe tending to depress the last.

The heel band 25 is supported byA levers 26 having twisted yielding arms 28 connected to the frontends of the band, and is further supported by an adjustable post 30' pivotally connected to the rear portion of the band and to the base' at 31. The levers 2G are fulcrumed 'at 32 upon the base and their front ends are formed as segments movable in guides in the base and engaging with pinions 34T secured to a shaft 35 mount- The shaft has to engage with a 'ratchet 38 secured to the base.v The levers 26 may be rocked by manipulating the hand lever and the heel band will be thereby moved longitudinally of the jack for clamping 'and releasing the upper material at the heel of the last. The pawl and ratchet secure the heel band inthe posiwardly, as before described, for 'causing `the corrugations on the heely pin to interlock" with the corrugations on the block 10, where- -by the last is secured against vertical movenient either upwardly or downwardly.

Springs 10 encircle 4the pivots upon which the levers 26 are mounted' and move the H Vleased from the ratchet 38.y

The devices for sustaining and upon the forepart of a last are supported by heel band rearwardly when the pawl is re# operating a swinging rarm 50 pivotally connected at 52 to the front end of the base of the Jack.

. y A spring oelnornially swings the arin 50 'forwardly away from thelast. The swinging armiv carries a rack segment 56, which engages with a pinion 5S mounted on a short shaft in the base 1'. The shaft. also carries" a ratchet wheel GO enga-ged by a locking' pawl 62 for holding the swinging arm and the parts supportedby it from reverse inovement when it has been moved toward the.

last. The locking pawl G2 is mounted on` a short rock shaft to which is secureda` `fingerpiece 64 by means `of which the pawlinay 'be disengaged from the ratchet. Ai ,springe 'pressed plunger 66 actuates the pawl to` ward the ratchet and holds it normally in engagement therewith. YVhen the pawl is vreleased from kthe ratchet the spring 541 'swings the arm 5.0 forwardly rto free the parts carried by the arin from the last. l,

The extent of the `forward movement of the arm is limited by a stop (3S carriednby the` ratchet wheel GO and adapted to engage a portion of the base. The ratchet wheel mayf be provided with a series of openings, as shown in Fig. 6, to permit the adjustment of the stop 68 for the purpose of varying the distance which ythey arm shall swing away from the last. Itris'found in practice vthat it is ad vantageous' to have the arin and the parts carried byA it swing forwardly rto a more advanced position, in ord-er to give the desired'clearance for inserting` and removing the last, when large lasts are being operated upon'than when smaller lasts are in the jack.l

The ul'iper portion of the -swinging Varm I' is forked and to the ends of the forks ivoted a cross bar 7 5y see Fie-s. .1 and 6 ro- P t, a

vided with a central pivot post 76npon"x which tliede'vices for supporting and act'- ing upon the `forepart of the shoe are',

mounted for turning movement in. a substan- I tially horiaontal plane. The cross bar,

has a forwardlyy extending arm 78 which is'r connected by means of a link' S() with the gbasel of the machine, see Fig. 1. The swinging arm 50 and the link Sdconst'itute parallel links by means of which the pivot post gemeen e 76 is maintained in asubsta-ntially vertical'. position, as the swinging arm and thek partsca-rriedrby it are adjustedv forwardly and backwardly.

sustained upon 'the pivot post 76. A. -screw 84 extends through. ahoriz'ontal slot the ,the jack, in, which, is movably mounted the toe rest 90. Stops 88 extending into the guideway limit the movement of the toe rest and the spring 92 normally 'presses said rest rearwardly toward the heel' pin. The provision .for sliding movementl ofthetoe rest 'in the'pa-rt upon which. it is supported permits said supporting bar to -move forwardly and rearwardly inthe operation .of jackingv as will hereinafter be and unjacking a shoe,

the rest to, rub

described, without causing over the surface 'of the shoe and possiblyy mar' or abrade the upper.

The toe rest 'is preferably provided with a rubber cushion or cover to reduce danger of injuring the shoe upper. in its rear face a .guideway curved 'about a centerlocated above the jack and substantially in the plane of shown in Fig.. 4. vThe toreceive aend'of a plate 96 whichfextends. downwardly from the rib. The plateitself is T-shaped in cross section4 and forms aguide upon which vis vertically movable va block 100 which is shown most clearly in Fig.v `5. The block is provided with a bearing for a shaft 102 havinga'n; arm 104,. see Fig. 2,. provided 1with -a sleeve 105. longitudinally movable. on'the armand having a pawl 109- for engagement' with a ratchet'disk 'ideway is formed 107 secured to the bearing. The shaft 102v is provided at its inner `end with a cam disk 110` having a hook-shaped ton ue 112 ar ranged to enga'e ahook-shaped ug 114 proL jecting forwardly from a slide 116 which is vertically movable'in a guide -slot formed in the rear side of the block. 100. The 4slide 116 has` -a rearwardly projecting stud 115 which extends through elongated slots in the` inner arms of bell-crank levers 117, the lower arms of which are guideways 1n the side portions of thel block slotted arms 'of'. the levers upwardly .and

outwardly. Each4 of the belmrank levers 117'supports a bar124havin its upp'eriend A block 82 is provided' with aV `hub 83 by lmeans of'which it is pivotally The blocky 82 has the shoe bottom, 'as

T-shaped rib 95 on the upperfulcrumed: on slidin ,l blocks 120' which are movable. in vertice 122 have their .lower` the bars 124 inwardly until'f'they contact with thesides of the last, the sides of the la'stpreventing further inward rocking of the levers. ,The continued downward movement of the slide 116 causes vthe levers -.to.- move downwardy'w-ith the slide, the slide blocks 120 of course moving-1n their guide? ways in the block.100. This `downward movement continues until-feelers 125 engage the inner sole on'v the last. If the last is so V.crank levers fonswingingtheir verticalarms 'shaped that its bottom facevis higher on one side than on the other, as is 'the case with twisted lasts, one Iof the feelers'125 will contact with the 'bottom of the last before the '-other. 'In-that 'case the block'100'and the lplate 96 will swing laterally in the Acurved ideway, heretofore described as `lformed 1n the block 82, this swinging movement continuing until the other feeler 125 engages with the bottom of thev last, after ywhich the two feelers'willpress Vthe forepart of the last {irmly down on the toe rest. feelers can descend no farther by reason of the last bein-g pressedir-mly against the toe rest, the lug 11a-against which the cam disk engages becomesl a fixed support for the disk and in thefurther turning of thecam` disk said disk and thel block 10Q are raised with relation to the toe rest and the last. The

toe band is supported for vertical movement with the block 100,v the rear ends of the toe `band being sustained by twisted spring arms i sustained for supporting the closed end of the toe` vband ata convenient elevation for 115,

= permitting the lastto be placed in' the jack. Thek plate 144 1 has a fdependingbar l150 whichgis movablein 'a 4guideway 151 in the front face' l ofthe block 100 and v is provided on its rear lside with .rack teeth which are adapted tube engaged -by teeth 152 formed on ,the c'am disk 110.- The teeth 152 are so located oni thecam disk with relation 'to the 'tongue 112 on said disk that the rack bar is engaged 'and' eleyatedbythe disk after the slide-bars 1241"` have lbeen-,moved into toge vatedjA to cause .the .toer

engagement with-thev lastv and the block 100,

- er ,with` theftoefband', has been ele-l band to embrace theformed at 113 to hold the bloelrlOO and the toe band in their elevated position While the slide 150 is being raised by the ,teeth 152 to swing the closed end of the toe band upwardly about the forepart of the last. In this swinging movement it will be understood that the toe band wipes the upper material toward the last bottom and in wiping it around the extreme toe portion of the last tends to draw the upper at this point somewhat-longitudinally of thelast.

The toe band is capable of movement to adapt its position to the swing of the last. This may be done by a movement about the' vertical stud 76 as before described, or by a lateral shifting of the closed end of the toe band which -is free to move transversely of the jack upon the plate. 144. As herein shown, means is provided, in the arms 124, for ascertaining the swing or irregular shape of the last and. for moving the toe band about the stud 7G before the band is raised. 'The rst movement ot' the bellerank levers 117, effected by the downward movement of the slide .116,.is an inward swii'lging of the vertical arms by which the bars 'L24 engage the side ofthe last.- lf one of the bars 124 meets the side of the last before the other it causes the block 100 and all the parts carried thereby, including the toeband` to'turn about the stud 76 to bring the sides of the vband into approximate -alinen'ient 'with the sides of the last. It is to be noted that the center 7G about which the toe band turns is located under the last at a distance from the end of the last, and as herein shown about midway between the' front and the rear ends of the band. For

. the purpose of confining the closed end of o Y i.

tudey of the two side edges of the bottom glf'ofi'th'e last was found bythe feelers 1125 on the toe bandagainst vertical displacement. a pin lextends laterally in each direction through the block which carries the roller 142 and thc end portions of the pin are received. and guided in slots in fianges 162 of the plate 1441. The plate 144 is provided with arms at eithei` end to which are pivotally. attached links 1641 connected to the toe band near its rear ends for supporting the rear endsl of the band against .forward .yielding when the band swung upwardly for wiping the upper over the toe ofthe last. It is to benoted that the altithebars 1211v and that thev block 10() and the to'e band were. automatically swung about a horizontalf'anis rv."llhis swinging movement .ihd `so. that when the band 9'; ln1s^beenjiaiseil into vits operative position about the forepartof `:the last its upper edge may be. fiush 'with the bottom of the last at both sides! ofthe last. v

A llhetoeband herein shown comprises va ichain, the links r170 of which are formed as shown in Fig. 3 and areeach provided with `an upstanding lug 172 having a beveled stretched or distorted in the use to which it.

is subjected in wiping the upper over the toe of the last. In unjacking the shoe it is desirable to retract both the heel band and the toe band from their respective ends of the s'hoe. 'The retraction of the heel band Ais effected by means of the hand lever 36 which turns 'the pinions 34 to raise the forward ends of the levers 26. The shaft is provided With a cam 17 5, ais lshown in Fig. 6, adjacent to the pinion 34 at the left-hand side of the jack, and the finger piece G4, by means of which the pawl (32 is elevated .from the ratchet 60, hasrv a rearwardly eX- tending arm adapted to be engaged by the cam 175.for actuating said finger piece to elevate the pawl and the 'ratchet and thereby permit the spring 54. to move the swinging arm 50 and the parts supported by it away from the forepart of the last. j

.ln the use of the jack a last with an upper and inner sole thereon is applied to the heel pin and the heel pin and last are depressed by the operator to position the bottom of the last flush with the upper edge of the 'heel band. The last is held in this position while without danger of the last being forced downwardly. The swinging arm 50 carryingthe devices for supporting and operating upon the forcpart of the last .is now moved toward the last, the extent of this movement being determined by the size of the particusov lar last. .in the jack, and the pawl 62 engages the ratchet (i0 for automatically securing these parts in the position to which they are moved. The hand lever 105 is now operated for turning the cam disl 110. The first result. of this movement of the cam disk is the rocking of the bell-crank levers 117 for swinging the arms 124 inwardly against the last, which effects the angular adjustment of the toe band for the swing of the last as shown in Figs. 9 and 12, the extent of this inward `movement being determined automatically by the width of the last. The neXt actionV is the depression of the bell-cranks and the arms 124 until one or the other ofthe Thereafter the block 100 and all the parts sup )orted by it are automatically vmoved latera ly about a horizontal axis in the curved guideway otl the block 82 until the other feeler 125 engages the bottom of the last as shown in Fig. 13, this movement automatically shifting the toe band so that when it is raised its upperedge willbe in alinement with the bottom of the last. When the :teelers have pressed the last firmly against the toe rest and can descend no farther, the

lug 114 on the slide 116 by which said bars have been depressed becomes a fixed support for the cam disk 110, which in its further movement rolls over said stationary lug and raises-the block 100 and all the parts sustained by it. This latter movement raises the toe band with relation to the last from the position shown in Fig. 9 until,l as herein shown, thehrear ends of the toe band are approximately flush with the bottom of the.

llast,.as shown in Fig. 10. At this point the outer face 113 of the cam disk comes into engagement with the lug 114, see Fig. 8, and holds the block 100 and the rearportion of the toe band in the position to which'they have been raised. At this time also the teeth 152 on the cam disk engage the teeth. of the rack bar 150 and cause the closed end of. the toe band to be swung upwardly about the pivotal connection vof said band with its supports 140. The upward swinging of the toe band continues until the front end thereof is brought -fiush withthebottom of the last, as shown in Fig. 11. The flexibility of the band permits it to conform accurately to the contourhof the last, whatever the shape ot its forepart.

Having explained the nature of my invention and fully described one mechanism embodyingthe invention, I claim as new .and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1'. An apparatus of the class described having, inv combination, lasting means, feelers arranged at op osite'sides of the last and movable laterally 4and downwardly theretoward having separate contact points to engage the inner sole on `the bottom of the last near its side edgesv for ascertaining the plane in which the bottom of the last is lo,

cated, and connections between said lasting means and the feelers for relatively .p adjusting the lasting means and the last angularly.

2 An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, a toe band, feelers .,mofxble'daterally from and toward operative position over the last bottom andhaving separate` contact points arranged toengage the inner sole on the bottom of the last near the rear ends of the toe band for ascertaining the plane in which the bottom of the lastl is located,and connections between the teelers and the band for adjusting the band angularly transversely of the last.

3. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, lasting means and two feelers separately connected with the lasting-means at opposite sides of the-last and arranged to engage the bottom of the last near its opposite side edges, and connected means for actuating the feelers together into engagement with the. last including` provision for permittinv each feeler to continue its movement until itcontacts with .the work and for moving the lasting means into predetermined angular relation to the portions of the last engaged by the feelers.

.4. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination with a shoe supporting jack, a toe band arranged to turn about an axis extending lengthwise of the jack, feelers located at the sides of the fore partof the last adjacent to and operatively connected with the ends of the toe band, means for actuating the feelers substantially perv4pendicularly tothe planevof the last bottom,

and connections between the feelers and the toe band for adjusting the band about said axis. i

5. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, members for sus: taining a last in inverted position, dev1ces for ascertaining the relative Avertical positions of` the two side edges of the bottom of the last at the ball, an end embracing band, and connections between the band and said devices for adjusting the Aband in accordance. with the relative positions of the two side edges of the last bottom.

6. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, toe lasting means, a laterally xed shoe supporting means including a toe rest, a base in which the toe' rest and the lasting means are mounted, a carriage for the lasting means, and a rib and groove connection located between said base and carriage and curved in an arc of a circle having. its center substantially in the planeof the bottom face of a last sustained on the toe rest. l

7. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, lasting means, shoesupp'ortino` means, a carriage .or the lasting means, a( tbase for the carriage and an 1nterlocking are-shaped rib and groove connection located between the lasting means and the base arranged to permit lateral rocking movement of the last-ing means and to direct that movement about an axis extending `lengthwise of the shoe and located substantially inl the plane of vthe bottom face lor lasting means, a support for the carriage., said support and carriage having transverse interlocking ,arc-shaped ribs and grooves formed vand arranged to permit' the lasting 5 means to be adjusted about an axis extending lengthwisevof the shoe, and means for e tuating the lasting means to coliform the s oc upper to the last'.v vQ. An apparatus of the class described l() ing a shoe-in position to be lasted,lasting means, a carriage therefor, a support, means.

is supported for lateral rocking movement,

" a transverse arc-shaped guideway formed- -I in the base, transverse curved guiding devices on vthe* carriage and movablev in the 30 arc-shaped guideways`,'.an d means for rocking the carriage to position the lastin vmeans in accordancerwith the transverse inc ination of they last bottom.

11. An apparatus ofthe class described having, in combination, the toe lasting band, the carriage96 ytherefor having the vertically curved transversev rib 95, and the 'block 82 arrangedto` maintain a relatively fiX'ed'position and 4having a curved 'guide- Way to'receive the rib 95 and permit movement Vof the toe lasting band to position 'it for the differentv transverse inclinations -of the bottoms of lasts 12. An apparatus of the class described having, in combination, lasting means con, .structed .and arranged to act upon a shoe simultaneously at opposite sides of the end portion of the last, means for supporting the shoe, means for sustaining the lasting means, and a sliding connection between the lasting means' and its sustaining means including a transverse guideway ter the mov-v ing part curved in an arc of a circle having 5'5 bottom face of the shoe.

13. In a shoe supporting jack,.the combination with means for sustaining a last in inverted vposition and an end embracing band arran ed for movement/about an axis extending ongitudinally of the jack,of means operating automatically .during the movement of the band into end embracing` position for adjusting the band about sai axis to position it in predetermined relation '05 to thesx'de edges of the last.

having, in combination, means .for -supporttransverse insustained, a base uponl which the carriage its center substantially in thc plane of the 14:.` In a shoe supporting jack, the combination with means for sustaining a last, lasting means, and means for ascertaining the height7 of the last, of connections between said last-named means and the lasting means for, relatively adjusting the lastingmeans and thelast in the direction of the height of the` last. 4

15. 'In a shoe supporting jack, the combination with means for sustaining a last, an end embracing band, and means for ascertaining the height of the last, of connections between said last-named means and the band for adjusting the band: vertically with relation to the last.

16. In a shoe sup o'rting jack, the combination withvm'eans or sustaining a last, of lasting means, and a feeler for. engaging the bottom of the last, of means for actuating said feeler to ascertain the height of the last and for moving the lasting means into predetermined vertical'relation to thelast. 17. In a shoe supporting jack, the combination with means forv sustaining a last, and

an end embracing band, of means for mov,

ing the band vertically, said band actuating means having provision for predetermining the position with relation to the bottom of the last to which the band may be raised..

18. In a. shoe supfporting jack, the combination with means o r sustaining a last, and

a toe band, of means for relatively moving l the toe band and last vertically, andvmeans for automatically determinin the 'extent of said movement whereby the and and last are caused to occupypredetermined relative positions.`

19. In a shoe supporting jack, the combination with means, including a toe rest, Ifor sustaining a last in inverted position, of means for ascertaining the height of the last bottom above the toe rest, a toe band, and means formoving the toe band vertically through a distance governed automatically by the ascertained height of the last bottom.

20: In a shoe supporting jack, the combi- .nat-ion with a support, a carriage movably mounted onl the support, lasting meansLcn said carriage, a feeler movable relatively to the carriage, and a cam mounted in the carriage and operatively connected with the teeler, of meansfor operating the cam to move the feeler into engagement with the last, and thereafter actuate the lasting means to perform its work' while. continuing the feeler in holding engagement with the work.

21. In a shoe-supporting jack, the combination with a toe' band,- a .feeler, `an actuator operatively connected with lsaid toe band and feeler and arranged to' move the fler downwardly until itengages the bottom of vthe last and then to move the toe banden wardly'toward the bottom of the last, whi e the lfeeler remains with the Work.

in .holding engagement 22. 4In. a shoe supporting `jaclnthe combi-v nation with a'toe band and feelers, of an actuator having a constant throwl opera-v tively connected 'with-said toe bandv and 5 feelers and arranged tomove 1 the yfeelers toward .the toe band until they engage the. bottom of the lastand thenwhile maintaln I ing thefeelersin workingposition to move the to'e 'band toward-jthegfeelers.during the 10 remainder of the throw' of the actuator,

whereby the toe band will alwaysbe moved vto the same position withrelation to the bottom of the last `independently yof the height ofv the last. 1 l j 23. In--a shoe supportin jack, the' combi 'nation with a toe band; 'means arraned to move the band 'verti lly` toward the tfast bottom and then to swing the bandfor-- wardly .and upwardly for `wiping the upper voverthe toe of'thelast..r

24. In a' shoe `supporting jack,t the combi-I lnation with a toeband, ofco'nnected mechanism for ascertaining'the altitude of the 'botltom of the last and for moving the toe band 25 verticallyinto predetermined relation to the vbottomof .the last and then swinging' the closed end. of the'to'e band u wardly towipe the up erove'r the toe of t e las 25. n a shoe supporting jack, the combination with a -toe band, of mechanism for ascertaining the altitude of the bottom of the last at its side edges, for movingthe toe lband about an axis extending longi-l tudinally of the lastinto redetermined relation to the' sideedges o the last, and then swinging the toe band about an axis extending transversely of the last for wiping the v upper over the toeof the last. 26, Ina shoe supporting jack, the combi- 40 nation 'withjmeans for sustaining a last in inverted position, and .an end embracing extending transversely of the last. r

28. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination, withI means for Ysustaining aclast, .of lasting means mounted for move- -ment-relatively to the last-about a vertical 50Y axis located back vof. the end of the last, and

'means connected' 'with' said lastinfr meansand arranged to engage the sides o? the 'last in the rear ofsaid axis for turning the lastnation with means for 'sustaining a last, of

in g meansp lot' the, r vlasig-,4,-andfco -other devices. 32. In' ashoesupporting jack,the comi, 29; In'fa mechanism ,of the lclass described,v` the cembinationxwith'; means Yfor sustainlng .jal last Ainvttl v position',l 'and an end embracing ban means movable independently"'` fithe d orascertaining the swing `nnec'tions between said means-andthe `-band for adjusting the band laterally. l 4

f 0. ,a Vshoe-yeu porting ja'l', the combination 'a :toe sand mounted -for lateral movement 'toadaptit to the swingo'f the lastlfand levers .connected lwith the toe band and; located on' opposite sides of vthe last, of means for actuating said levers into engageinent with the sides yof the las't whereby turning of thetoe band into alinement with `the sides of the last is effected before tho band is closed and for 'actuating-the baud to embrace the toe portion.v of the last.

S15-In a shoe supporting jack, the combi- `nation with means vfor sustainin a last, ofl

an end embracing band arrang l\for movement toward and from the sustaining means,

means for locking saidband in its position v adjacent tothe sustaining means, otherdevices for operating-upon the shoe and means vfor automatically unlocking sai band and Imovmg'it away fromthe sustaining meansin connection with the movement ofsaid bination with means for sustaining a last, of a toe band arranged to swing ltoward and from the sustaining means, mean's'for locking said toe band in its position adjacent to the sustaining means, a heel'fband, means for moving the heel band toward and' from the sustaining means, and means for automatic'-` ally unlockinggthe toe band when the heel band is moved away 'from the sustaining means. x

33` In a shoe supporting jack, the combination with means for sustainin a last, of a'v toe band mounted on a vertica pivot post,

a swinging'support upon which the pivot post 1s carried, vand means for mamtamlng thel pivot post in vertical position in diifer` ent positions of said swinging support.

34. In a shoe supporting/- Jack, the combi- 'nation with means' for sustaining a last, of

bell-crank levers, a heel band connected at its ends t0 an upright arm lof each' lever, teeth formed on a forwardly extending arm of each lever, a shaft,v and means carried by the shaft for engaging the teeth to aotuate tlie levers for moving the'heel lband toward and from the last. y l l 37. In a shoe supporting jack, the combination withmeans for sustaining a last, or bell-crank levers, each provided with a yieldwardly extending arm7 aheel band c,on neoted at its ends to thevyielding armsl of v said levers, and means operatively connected heel band against thee'nd of the last .and

with the forward arms of the two levers for actuating the levers together to force the ing twisted arm, Aand a horizontal for' cause the twistedarms to force the ends of the band against the sides of the last.

38. In amaeliiney of the 'class described, the combination with means for sustaining a last, of a toe band, 'and means foraseertaining the swing of the last, said mechanism having provlsionfor mogvement of the closed front end of the toe band laterally to adapt the position of the .band to the swingv othelast. ,y v l lIn testimony whereof I lhave signed my A namel to this specification in the presence ot two subscribing Witnesses.

, EDWARD Witnesses: g

ARTI-im: IrfRUssELL, ELIZABETH C. COUPE.

A'. g'rieein s. 

